Gbotemi Abraham Adediran
The scientific knowledge of below ground root-bacteria-metal system is still significantly limited. A unique study based on the use of synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy (S-XAS) to determine the accumulation and speciation of zinc (Zn) in roots of Brassica juncea exposed to Zn contamination following inoculation with Pseudomonas brassicacearum and Rhizobium leguminosarum provides robust evidence that bacteria ameliorate Zn toxicity by sequestering Zn in compounds that reduce its bio-toxicity and at sites devoid of Zn sensitive organelles.